Lone Star College SystemLone Star College System, accredited since 1976, has served more than 69,000 students on campuses in Cypress-Fairbanks, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris County, Tomball, University Park and online.

Students can contact Lone Star College at 832-813-6500 or visit www.lonestar.edu/nursing-dept.htm.

A new agreement between the University of Houston-Victoria and the Houston-area Lone Star College System will make it easier for nursing students to continue their studies and advance their professional skills.

The agreement, in effect now through 2013, smoothes the path for current Lone Star students earning an associate degree in nursing to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UHV. They will be automatically admitted to UHV's Registered Nurse to BSN program.

A nursing student satisfying the Lone Star general education core also will have satisfied all UHV core requirements.

"This is a real win-win for nursing students, the profession and the two schools," said Kathryn Tart, founding dean of the UHV School of Nursing. "We see this agreement as a big step in fulfilling the needs of the profession and helping students more easily continue their educational goals."

While community colleges are popular for nurses, healthcare workers and emergency first responders, only 9 percent of nursing students with an associate degree go on to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

LSCS Vice Chancellor Donetta Goodall said the agreement will help the students with career planning and make the transfer process easier to navigate.

"Having this agreement will be so beneficial to our students because it will allow them to plan their transfer activities without losing any credits rather than relying on chance," Goodall said.